`Penguin' Thieves Hit Chester Man's Lawn

CHESTER — Who says the Grinch only strikes at Christmas time? Not Donald Grabon, a Water Street resident whose five ``penguins'' were stolen last weekend from his popular winter lawn display.

Grabon made his display seven years ago creating ``penguins'' with empty 2-liter Pepsi and 1-liter Schweppes bottles. The display showed 22 penguins doing everything from conducting a band to hitchhiking with a suitcase full of fish.

``I think it's priceless,'' Grabon said Wednesday. ``You can't get those style bottles anymore because they don't make them. It's become quite the sight in town.

``I do it for everyone. Children loved it. I'm really upset that someone had to steal some of them.''

Grabon said the penguins stolen were the conductor, a hitchhiker, a snowman, a kissing female and ``just a good old plain one.''

While the resident state trooper is investigating the theft, Grabon has placed a sign in front of his house offering a $50 reward.

But more than anything, Grabon hopes the thief has a change of heart and returns them.

``It's like they were picking and choosing,'' Grabon said of the thief. ``A lot of people appreciated them and stopped by and looked at them. A few years ago, a woman from Florida saw them and had to buy one, so I sold it to her.''

Grabon admits he had lousy timing.

``I was going to take them down the weekend before they were stolen, but it snowed and I didn't have the heart to bring them inside. You live and learn.

``It's a small town, maybe . . .,'' Grabon said, his voice trailing off in the wish his penguins might return home.